President Rodrigo Duterte has finally given Vice President Leni Robredo a Cabinet post.
Robredo has been appointed chief of Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC).
In an official statement published on her website today, July 7, VP Robredo thanked President Duterte for giving her an opportunity to serve fellow Filipinos through her Cabinet post.
"Nagpapasalamat tayo kay Presidente Rodrigo Duterte na itinalaga tayo bilang Tagapangulo ng Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council.
"Mas mapaglilingkuran natin ang ating mga kababayang walang tahanan at maipagpapatuloy natin ang ating pangakong itulak ang kaunlaran at kaginhawaan para sa ating mga kapus-palad na kababayan."
Robredo also cited the fact that providing adequate shelters to the urban poor was one of the causes championed by her late husband and former Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo.
"Ang pagtugon sa mga pangangailangan sa pabahay ay matagal nang adhikain ni Jesse.
"Maisasakatuparan ito at mabibiyayaan ang mga nasa laylayan sa pakikipagtulungan ng lahat," she added.
VERY AMIABLE MEETING. According to Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Vitalliano Aguirre II, President Duterte's "very amiable" meeting with VP Robredo was "key" to the president's decision to offer her a position.
Aguirre also mentioned that Duterte offered Robredo the Cabinet post through a phone call.
"I believe both parties are happy with the decision.
"We could feel that many among present Cabinet members are also happy with the fact that, at last, the vice president is no longer an officer with no Cabinet position," Aguirre was quoted as saying in ABS-CBN News Online's report.
DUTERTE'S CHANGE OF HEART. In a presscon last May 31, Duterte categorically stated that there would be no Cabinet position for Robredo due to political differences.
Read: Rodrigo Duterte says no Cabinet position for Leni Robredo; refuses to hurt Bongbong Marcos
But the president clearly had a change of heart following VP Robredo's courtesy call in Malacanang last Monday, July 4.
Prior to that meeting, the two met for the first time during the Armed Forces of The Philippines turnover rites last Friday, July 1.
Read: What Duterte told Robredo when they met for the first time